As an idiom, “hanging by a thread” comes from the Greek legend popularly known as the Sword of Damocles, as TheIdioms.com ...

Anyways, the earliest media citation of “getting their ducks in a row” is this, according to TheIdioms.com: The earliest ...

At the drop of the hat, literally, the race or fight commences. Immediately, that is, without delay. Likewise, figuratively, ...